Crazy Things You Can Totally Use as Tiles

What is tile anyway? As it turns out, it doesn't have to be something you buy from the hardware store. With a little ingenuity, pretty much anything that's hard and nonporous and relatively flat (and some things that aren't) can become a tile. Case in point: these five projects that will have you looking at everyday objects with new eyes.

Above: It's not that unusual to see mosaics made from broken dishes, but this tiled step adds a quirky twist to this, with the handle of a broken teacup peeking playfully out from among broken bits of china. Photo from Frankie Magazine, via SF Girl by Bay.

You've seen penny tiles, but what about a tile floor made from actual pennies? There are actually quite a few people doing this, and some of them, like Kelly from Pretty Purple Door, have even used the variations in the colors of the pennies to create eye-catching patterns.

And then there's nickel tile, spotted in this DIY Seattle bathroom renovation. Costs five times as much, obviously, but maybe a good option for you if you really like the color, or just really like Thomas Jefferson.